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LHR · London, United Kingdom

Reviewed July 27, 2026

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What Time Should I Leave for Heathrow Airport (LHR)?

Heathrow recommends arriving 2 hours before a UK, Ireland or European flight and 3 hours before a long-haul flight. To find your leave time, add the journey from your starting point, plus any time needed to park, change trains or walk from the station to your terminal.

Your Trip

Planning this trip

Departure time

Flight type

Route

Leaving from

Airport

Add where you are leaving from, or enter the journey time manually.

✓

Already Included

✓Heathrow security (London Heathrow (LHR))
✓Parking or curb access
✓UK, Ireland or Europe timing
✓Expected traffic

Your leave time includes

✓Expected traffic
✓Heathrow security time
✓Parking and terminal walking
✓Time inside the airport
✓UK, Ireland or Europe recommendations

Example Time to Leave

10:30 AM European flight · Paddington · Elizabeth line

Leave Paddington around 7:30 AM

  • 8:30 AM terminal arrival target
  • Time to get from the correct station to check-in
  • Rail journey plus room for a missed or delayed train

What can add time on the way to Heathrow Airport

Your terminal changes how you get to Heathrow. Terminals 2 and 3 share the central airport entrance from the M4 spur, while Terminals 4 and 5 have separate approaches near M25 Junction 14. Trains also use different stops for different terminals. Confirm your terminal first, then allow time for the road or rail journey, parking or station access, bag drop, security and the walk to your gate.

Before you leave, confirm your terminal and check for road, rail or airport disruptions.

Your terminal determines your route

  • For Terminals 2 and 3, Heathrow directs drivers via M4 Junction 4 or M25 Junction 15 into the central terminal area.
  • For Terminals 4 and 5, Heathrow recommends M25 Junction 14. Terminal 5 has its own spur road; Terminal 4 uses the southern airport approach.
  • Set your destination to the exact terminal, car park or drop-off zone—not just 'Heathrow Airport'. This helps your route include the correct final airport roads.

Allow time to reach your gate

  • Heathrow currently recommends terminal arrival 2 hours before UK, Ireland or European flights and 3 hours before long-haul flights.
  • Heathrow says to allow about 20 minutes from security to Terminal 2B gates and most Terminal 3 gates, and about 15 minutes to reach Terminal 5B or 5C gates using the transit system.
  • Check your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadline. If it requires you to arrive earlier than the calculator suggests, follow the airline's time.

Add the time after your car or train arrives

  • Heathrow Express runs from Paddington, while the Elizabeth and Piccadilly lines serve more parts of London. Check that your service stops at the terminal you need.
  • If you use Park & Ride, add time to wait for the bus, load your luggage and walk into the terminal. Your drive ends at the car park, not at check-in.
  • Heathrow charges for drop-off directly outside the terminals and does not allow drivers to wait there. Free drop-off is available at Park & Ride, but you will need the transfer bus.

Worked examples for leaving for LHR

These examples show how to work backward from a flight. Your route and conditions will be different, so use the calculator above for your trip.

Paddington -> LHR Terminal 5

10:30 AM European flight · rail · carry-on only

Assumptions

  • 2-hour terminal-arrival target from Heathrow guidance
  • Rail journey plus time to reach the platform and wait for the train
  • Time to move from the Terminal 5 station to departures

Work backward

  1. Flight departure: 10:30 AM
  2. Terminal arrival target: 8:30 AM
  3. Allow enough time to miss one train and still reach check-in
  4. Check the live rail schedule before leaving

Illustrative Paddington departure: about 7:30 AM

Cambridge -> LHR Terminal 3

6:00 PM long-haul flight · driving · Park & Ride

Assumptions

  • 3-hour terminal-arrival target from Heathrow guidance
  • Afternoon traffic on the M11, M25 and M4
  • Parking, shuttle wait and terminal transfer are separate steps

Work backward

  1. Flight departure: 6:00 PM
  2. Terminal arrival target: 3:00 PM
  3. Reach Park & Ride early enough to catch the transfer bus
  4. Subtract the traffic-aware drive from that parking time

Use the calculator above for a route-specific leave time

Reading -> LHR Terminal 5

8:15 AM long-haul flight · RailAir coach connection

Assumptions

  • 3-hour terminal-arrival target
  • Coach journey plus time to make the station connection
  • Terminal 5 station-to-departures movement

Work backward

  1. Flight departure: 8:15 AM
  2. Terminal arrival target: 5:15 AM
  3. Choose a coach that arrives before the target
  4. Choose an earlier coach if a short delay would make you late

Check the first-day service timetable before relying on this route

Check current traffic or public-transport service before you leave. If your airline gives you an earlier check-in or bag-drop deadline, use that time.

Check these details before you leave

Airport details can change. On the day of your flight, confirm your terminal and your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.

Check current road conditions or public-transport service before setting off. If you are parking or using a transfer bus, confirm its operating schedule too.

Official information used for this guide

We checked this guidance against official airport, transport and security sources. Reviewed July 27, 2026.

Heathrow Airport leave-time questions

What time should I leave for Heathrow Airport (LHR)?

Heathrow recommends arriving 2 hours before a UK, Ireland or European flight and 3 hours before a long-haul flight. To find your leave time, add the journey from your starting point, plus any time needed to park, change trains or walk from the station to your terminal.

How early should I arrive at LHR?

Use about 2 hours before uk, ireland or europe and 3 hours before long-haul as a planning baseline. Add time for parking, rail or terminal transfers, and follow any earlier deadline supplied by your airline.

Does the LHR calculator include road and transit time?

Yes. Enter your starting location, flight time and arrival method to estimate a traffic-aware drive or scheduled public-transit trip. The result also includes airport-processing assumptions.

What local airport timing details matter at LHR?

Confirm Terminal 2, 3, 4 or 5 before planning your journey. The terminals use different motorway approaches and rail stops. Park & Ride adds a bus transfer, and some gates can take 15 to 20 minutes to reach after security.

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